Name: George Griffin
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 7" (1.7 m)
Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
Email: griffin42 (at) tiscali (dot) co (dot) uk
City: London U.K
Date: 17 May 2005

Backpacking Background

I have been backpacking since 1986, mainly in the Peak District, Lake District, Wales and Southern England. I am also the London liaison member for the Backpackers Club. In the early days I backpacked solo but in recent years I have backpacked with two friends. Most of my trips are from September through to May, I normally get four 4+ day trips in that time, plus the occasional weekend.

Terrain and elevation on these trips can be anything from coastal paths to mountains, sea level to 3,000 ft (900 m). Temperatures range from -5 C to 23 C (23 F to 75 F).

Product Information

Model: LTM6 Airflo Hat
Colour: Natural with a green under brim
Manufacturer: Tilley Endurables
Website: www.tilley.com
MSRP: £49.00

Listed Weight: 85 gm (3 oz)
Measured Weight: 100 gm (3 ½ oz)
Size: 7 ½ Which is a 60.5 cm (23 ½ in) circumference
Overall length: 37.5 cm (14 ½ in)
Overall width: 31 cm (12 ¼ in)
Overall height: 14.5 cm (5 ½ in)

Brim
Front & Back: 8 cm (3 ¼ in)
Sides: 6.5 cm (2 ½ in)

Field Report

I`ve managed about 9 or 10 trips out wearing the LTM6; all but a couple of the trips have been day hikes with mileage's between 2 and 4 miles (3 and 6 km) and with one being a 7 mile (11km) hike. The others have been trips to the shops or trips to the local park with the kids.

Temperatures are still in the 14-17 C (57-63 F) range; there have been days when it has been clear blue skies but mostly its been cloudy and muggy. As yet I haven`t had a chance to test the LTM6 in the rain; as we haven`t had too much in recent weeks.

Most of the day hikes have been with a camera backpack; this pack is smaller than a day pack and also smaller than a backpacking pack. One exception to this was the 7 mile (11 km) hike, on which I used the Six Moon Designs Comet backpack.

With the camera backpack there was no problem with the brim at the back touching the pack but with the Comet, when I tilted my head up the brim did touch the pack. The brim is quite flexible and because of this, the brim just bends up and once I lowered my head the brim went back. This was never a really big problem and after a while I stopped noticing it. So far, I have found that the brim gives good protection to my neck and face, although this will be tested more in the next few months.

Most of the time, I just plonk the LTM6 on my head and away I go. I have only used the wind cord on a couple of occasions. The first time was a walk along the River Thames at Greenwich; the wind was blowing in off the river and I needed to drop the wind cord as I could feel the hat lifting on my head. The second time I was climbing up out of a valley on to a ridge; I can`t say how strong the wind was but it was blowing enough to blow the front brim up, again I dropped the back cord down. As it was quite windy I wanted to see if the hat would blow off, so the chin strap wasn`t deployed; I`m happy to say that the hat stayed put. When the wind cord isn`t in use, it sits on top of my head inside the crown, this may sound as though it would be uncomfortable but it isn`t; I hardly know its there.

I did find setting the sliding knots on the strap a bit fiddly but that could be because I`ve only set them twice.

With the temperatures still not in the 20s C (68 F) the hydrofil sweatband hasn`t had a big workout yet. The sweating I have done has been soaked up well and no sweat has gotten down into my eyes yet. The lack of sweat can also be attributed to the mesh vent at the top of the hat.

The mesh vent does allow a lot of ventilation to the top of my head; so much so that a couple of times I have noticed that the top of my head has been cool not cold or chilled but very cool. This maybe a good thing as the temperatures rise but I would be concerned when the temperatures start to drop below 10 C (57 F).

The LTM6 has been washed once; not because of it being dirty but just to see how quickly it would dry. The hat was washed in Nikwax Loft Tech Wash (which is a non-detergent soap for use on all waterproof clothing and outdoor equipment) on a cotton/linen setting on the washing machine. It was then hung on the washing line on a overcast but breezy day and was more or less dry in about 3-4 hours, the wind cord was the last part to fully dry.

After washing and drying the hat felt a tiny big tighter on my head but after a couple of hours wearing it, the hat felt the same as before washing. The hat still kept its soft and supple feel.

The temperatures are gradually starting to climb into the 20 C (68 F) and above; the weathermen in the U.K. are predicting one day in August the temperature will hit 37 C (100 F), so it looks like the LTM6 is in for a big workout over the next 3-4 months.

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Field Report

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